1
|
Willis TL, Lodge EJ, Andoniadou CL, Yianni V. Cellular interactions in the pituitary stem cell niche. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:612. [PMID: 36451046 PMCID: PMC9712314 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04612-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells in the anterior pituitary gland can give rise to all resident endocrine cells and are integral components for the appropriate development and subsequent maintenance of the organ. Located in discreet niches within the gland, stem cells are involved in bi-directional signalling with their surrounding neighbours, interactions which underpin pituitary gland homeostasis and response to organ challenge or physiological demand. In this review we highlight core signalling pathways that steer pituitary progenitors towards specific endocrine fate decisions throughout development. We further elaborate on those which are conserved in the stem cell niche postnatally, including WNT, YAP/TAZ and Notch signalling. Furthermore, we have collated a directory of single cell RNA sequencing studies carried out on pituitaries across multiple organisms, which have the potential to provide a vast database to study stem cell niche components in an unbiased manner. Reviewing published data, we highlight that stem cells are one of the main signalling hubs within the anterior pituitary. In future, coupling single cell sequencing approaches with genetic manipulation tools in vivo, will enable elucidation of how previously understudied signalling pathways function within the anterior pituitary stem cell niche.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thea L Willis
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emily J Lodge
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cynthia L Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Val Yianni
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lin YF, Schang G, Buddle ERS, Schultz H, Willis TL, Ruf-Zamojski F, Zamojski M, Mendelev N, Boehm U, Sealfon SC, Andoniadou CL, Bernard DJ. Steroidogenic Factor 1 Regulates Transcription of the Inhibin B Coreceptor in Pituitary Gonadotrope Cells. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6661776. [PMID: 35957608 PMCID: PMC9761571 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The inhibins control reproduction by suppressing follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis in pituitary gonadotrope cells. The newly discovered inhibin B coreceptor, TGFBR3L, is selectively and highly expressed in gonadotropes in both mice and humans. Here, we describe our initial characterization of mechanisms controlling cell-specific Tgfbr3l/TGFBR3L transcription. We identified two steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1 or NR5A1) cis-elements in the proximal Tgfbr3l promoter in mice. SF-1 induction of murine Tgfbr3l promoter-reporter activity was inhibited by mutations in one or both sites in heterologous cells. In homologous cells, mutation of these cis-elements or depletion of endogenous SF-1 similarly decreased reporter activity. We observed nearly identical results when using a human TGFBR3L promoter-reporter. The Tgfbr3l gene was tightly compacted and Tgfbr3l mRNA expression was essentially absent in gonadotropes of SF-1 (Nr5a1) conditional knockout mice. During murine embryonic development, Tgfbr3l precedes Nr5a1 expression, though the two transcripts are fully colocalized by embryonic day 18.5 and thereafter. Collectively, these data indicate that SF-1 directly regulates Tgfbr3l/TGFBR3L transcription and is required for postnatal expression of the gene in gonadotropes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeu-Farn Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Evan R S Buddle
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Hailey Schultz
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Thea L Willis
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Frederique Ruf-Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Michel Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg 66421, Germany
| | - Stuart C Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Cynthia L Andoniadou
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schang G, Ongaro L, Brûlé E, Zhou X, Wang Y, Boehm U, Ruf-Zamojski F, Zamojski M, Mendelev N, Seenarine N, Amper MA, Nair V, Ge Y, Sealfon SC, Bernard DJ. Transcription factor GATA2 may potentiate follicle-stimulating hormone production in mice via induction of the BMP antagonist gremlin in gonadotrope cells. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102072. [PMID: 35643321 PMCID: PMC9251782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian reproduction depends on the gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone, which are secreted by pituitary gonadotrope cells. The zinc-finger transcription factor GATA2 was previously implicated in FSH production in male mice; however, its mechanisms of action and role in females were not determined. To directly address GATA2 function in gonadotropes, we generated and analyzed gonadotrope-specific Gata2 KO mice using the Cre-lox system. We found that while conditional KO (cKO) males exhibited ∼50% reductions in serum FSH levels and pituitary FSHβ subunit (Fshb) expression relative to controls, FSH production was apparently normal in cKO females. In addition, RNA-seq analysis of purified gonadotropes from control and cKO males revealed a profound decrease in expression of gremlin (Grem1), a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist. We show Grem1 was expressed in gonadotropes, but not other cell lineages, in the adult male mouse pituitary. Furthermore, Gata2, Grem1, and Fshb mRNA levels were significantly higher in the pituitaries of WT males relative to females but decreased in males treated with estradiol and increased following ovariectomy in control but not cKO females. Finally, we found that recombinant gremlin stimulated Fshb expression in pituitary cultures from WT mice. Collectively, the data suggest that GATA2 promotes Grem1 expression in gonadotropes and that the gremlin protein potentiates FSH production. The mechanisms of gremlin action have not yet been established but may involve attenuation of BMP binding to activin type II receptors in gonadotropes, facilitating induction of Fshb transcription by activins or related ligands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Frederique Ruf-Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michel Zamojski
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Natalia Mendelev
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nitish Seenarine
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mary Anne Amper
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Venugopalan Nair
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yongchao Ge
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stuart C Sealfon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Advanced Research on Diagnostic Assays, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ongaro L, Zhou X, Cui Y, Boehm U, Bernard DJ. Gonadotrope-specific deletion of the BMP type 2 receptor does not affect reproductive physiology in mice†‡. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:639-646. [PMID: 31724029 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Activins selectively stimulate follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) secretion by pituitary gonadotrope cells. More recently, other members of the TGFbeta superfamily, the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), were reported to regulate FSH synthesis. Activins and BMPs independently and synergistically stimulate transcription of the FSHbeta subunit (Fshb) gene in immortalized gonadotrope-like cells. Both ligands can signal via the activin receptor type IIA (ACVR2A) to regulate FSH synthesis in vitro. In vivo, global Acvr2a knockout mice exhibit a 60% reduction in circulating FSH relative to wild-type animals, suggesting that activins, BMPs, or related ligands might signal through additional type II receptors to regulate FSH in vivo. Although the leading candidates are ACVR2B and the BMP type II receptor (BMPR2), only the latter mediates activin or BMP2 induction of Fshb transcription in vitro. Here, we generated mice carrying a loss of function mutation in Bmpr2 specifically in gonadotropes. Puberty onset, estrous cyclicity, and reproductive organ weights were similar between control and conditional knockout females. Serum FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) and pituitary expression of Fshb and the LHbeta subunit (Lhb) were similarly unaffected by the gene deletion in both sexes. These results suggest that BMPR2 might not play a necessary role in FSH synthesis or secretion in vivo or that another type II receptor, such as ACVR2A, can fully compensate for its absence. These data also further contribute to the emerging concept that BMPs may not be physiological regulators of FSH in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yiming Cui
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.,Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Schang G, Ongaro L, Schultz H, Wang Y, Zhou X, Brûlé E, Boehm U, Lee SJ, Bernard DJ. Murine FSH Production Depends on the Activin Type II Receptors ACVR2A and ACVR2B. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5818077. [PMID: 32270195 PMCID: PMC7286621 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Activins are selective regulators of FSH production by pituitary gonadotrope cells. In a gonadotrope-like cell line, LβT2, activins stimulate FSH via the activin type IIA receptor (ACVR2A) and/or bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2). Consistent with these observations, FSH is greatly reduced, though still present, in global Acvr2a knockout mice. In contrast, FSH production is unaltered in gonadotrope-specific Bmpr2 knockout mice. In light of these results, we questioned whether an additional type II receptor might mediate the actions of activins or related TGF-β ligands in gonadotropes. We focused on the activin type IIB receptor (ACVR2B), even though it does not mediate activin actions in LβT2 cells. Using a Cre-lox strategy, we ablated Acvr2a and/or Acvr2b in murine gonadotropes. The resulting conditional knockout (cKO) animals were compared with littermate controls. Acvr2a cKO (cKO-A) females were subfertile (~70% reduced litter size), cKO-A males were hypogonadal, and both sexes showed marked decreases in serum FSH levels compared with controls. Acvr2b cKO (cKO-B) females were subfertile (~20% reduced litter size), cKO-B males had a moderate decrease in testicular weight, but only males showed a significant decrease in serum FSH levels relative to controls. Simultaneous deletion of both Acvr2a and Acvr2b in gonadotropes led to profound hypogonadism and FSH deficiency in both sexes; females were acyclic and sterile. Collectively, these data demonstrate that ACVR2A and ACVR2B are the critical type II receptors through which activins or related TGF-β ligands induce FSH production in mice in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Hailey Schultz
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Emilie Brûlé
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Ulrich Boehm
- Department of Experimental Pharmacology, Center for Molecular Signaling, Saarland University School of Medicine, Homburg, Germany
| | - Se-Jin Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory, Farmington, Connecticut
- University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler room 1320, Montreal H3G 1Y6, QC, Canada. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ongaro L, Schang G, Ho CC, Zhou X, Bernard DJ. TGF-β Superfamily Regulation of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Synthesis by Gonadotrope Cells: Is There a Role for Bone Morphogenetic Proteins? Endocrinology 2019; 160:675-683. [PMID: 30715256 PMCID: PMC6388655 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are pleiotropic ligands in the TGF-β superfamily. In the early to mid-2000s, several BMPs, including BMP2, were shown to regulate FSH synthesis alone and in synergy with activins in immortalized gonadotrope-like cell lines and primary pituitary cultures. Activins are also TGF-β family members, which were identified and named based on their abilities to stimulate FSH production selectively. Mechanistic analyses suggested that BMP2 promoted expression of the FSHβ subunit gene (Fshb) via at least two nonmutually exclusive mechanisms. First, BMP2 stimulated the production of the inhibitor of DNA-binding proteins 1, 2, and 3 (Id1, Id2, and Id3), which potentiated the stimulatory actions of homolog of Drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic 3 (SMAD3) on the Fshb promoter. SMAD3 is an intracellular signaling protein that canonically mediates the actions of activins and is an essential regulator of Fshb production in vitro and in vivo. Second, BMP2 was shown to activate SMAD3-dependent signaling via its canonical type IA receptor, BMPR1A (also known as ALK3). This was a surprising result, as ALK3 conventionally activates distinct SMAD proteins. Although these initial results were compelling, they were challenged by contemporaneous and subsequent observations. For example, inhibitors of BMP signaling did not specifically impair FSH production in cultured pituitary cells. Of perhaps greater significance, mice lacking ALK3 in gonadotrope cells produced FSH normally. Therefore, the physiological role of BMPs in FSH synthesis in vivo is presently uncertain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luisina Ongaro
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Gauthier Schang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Catherine C Ho
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Daniel J Bernard
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Centre for Research in Reproduction and Development, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Correspondence: Daniel J. Bernard, PhD, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3655 Promenade Sir William Osler, Room 1315, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada. E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Mouse Models for the Study of Synthesis, Secretion, and Action of Pituitary Gonadotropins. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2016; 143:49-84. [PMID: 27697204 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Gonadotropins play fundamental roles in reproduction. More than 30years ago, Cga transgenic mice were generated, and more than 20years ago, the phenotypes of Cga null mice were reported. Since then, numerous mouse strains have been generated and characterized to address several questions in reproductive biology involving gonadotropin synthesis, secretion, and action. More recently, extragonadal expression, and in some cases, functions of gonadotropins in nongonadal tissues have been identified. Several genomic and proteomic approaches including novel mouse genome editing tools are available now. It is anticipated that these and other emerging technologies will be useful to build an integrated network of gonadotropin signaling pathways in various tissues. Undoubtedly, research on gonadotropins will continue to provide new knowledge and allow us transcend from benchside to the bedside.
Collapse
|
8
|
Stallings CE, Kapali J, Ellsworth BS. Mouse Models of Gonadotrope Development. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2016; 143:1-48. [PMID: 27697200 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The pituitary gonadotrope is central to reproductive function. Gonadotropes develop in a systematic process dependent on signaling factors secreted from surrounding tissues and those produced within the pituitary gland itself. These signaling pathways are important for stimulating specific transcription factors that ultimately regulate the expression of genes and define gonadotrope identity. Proper gonadotrope development and ultimately gonadotrope function are essential for normal sexual maturation and fertility. Understanding the mechanisms governing differentiation programs of gonadotropes is important to improve treatment and molecular diagnoses for patients with gonadotrope abnormalities. Much of what is known about gonadotrope development has been elucidated from mouse models in which important factors contributing to gonadotrope development and function have been deleted, ectopically expressed, or modified. This chapter will focus on many of these mouse models and their contribution to our current understanding of gonadotrope development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C E Stallings
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States
| | - J Kapali
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States
| | - B S Ellsworth
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, United States.
| |
Collapse
|